Merry Christmas.  And when you read this news, you think “Here on Dec. 25, why would Iran have a senior Quds Force officer in southern Lebanon, right across the border from Israel?  Didn’t Iran for years say it plays no role in Lebanon or Hezbollah or Syria?”  See “IDF: Senior Iranian Quds Force Unit 840 terrorist killed in Lebanon | LIVE BLOG,” i24, 12-25-25.  Well, he won’t do that anymore.  “Hussein Mahmoud Marshad al-Jawhari was killed in the Ansariyah area. He was described as a key member of the Quds Force’s Operational Unit 840, responsible for planning and advancing terror attacks against Israel from both Syria and Lebanon in recent years.”

“Iran voices appreciation for China’s JCPOA role at UN meeting,” CGTN, 12-25-25.

“Iran Launches 2nd Largest Oil Unit in West Karun,” Mehr, 12-25-25.

It’s Christmas Eve.  And lest you think that Iran is going off into the sunset, read on from the Atlantic Council.  “Iran’s regional strategy has long relied on a layered deterrence model built around proxies, long-range fires, and ambiguity rather than direct state-to-state confrontation. This model seeks to impose cumulative costs on adversaries while insulating Iran from direct retaliation. According to repeated assessments by the US Department of Defense and the United Nations, Iran maintains the largest and most diverse missile force in the Middle East and continues to invest in survivability, underground basing, and production capacity. These capabilities are complemented by Iran-aligned armed groups operating across Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.”  See “The Middle East is on the brink of a new crisis. Here’s where it could start,” Dispatches, 12-24-25.  Here’s more food for thought, and why the U.S. should pay attention to Iraq–“Simultaneously, escalation elsewhere has historically coincided with increased activity by Iran-aligned groups in Iraq, including rocket and drone attacks on US and coalition facilities. These pathways are not theoretical. They reflect repeated patterns observed over the past decade, now compressed by explicit timelines, rearmament efforts, and eroding deterrence.”  Finally, some say the U.S. has its eye off the ball by surrounding Maduro in VENZ–but that action is also pointed at Iran and the dark economy.

“[W]e do not care what he has to say.”  After winning motorcycle and scooter freedoms because so many women ride them, disobeying the Supreme Leader en masse is the way to go.  See “‘There’s no going back’: Iran’s women on why they won’t stop flouting dress code laws,” Guardian, 12-24-25.

“Iran rejects inspections of bombed nuclear sites without IAEA framework,” Al Jazeera, 12-24-25.

Surprised?  Shouldn’t be.  “Khamenei gives green light to compact nuclear warheads – report,” Iran International, 12-24-25.  Per the report from the Italian Institute for International Political Studies, “The only true deterrent that could save the Iranian regime in the event of a conflict against Israel and its US allies would be nuclear weapons.”

“Iran rejects inspections of bombed nuclear sites until IAEA defines ‘post-war conditions’,” 12-24-25.

“Iran rejects inspection of bombed sites, demands IAEA clarify stance,” Xinhua, 12-24-25.

“‘Leave the fire and take Trump’s hand,’ US envoy tells Iran at UN,” Iran International, 12-23-25.

Good news in a crazy world.  “Iraq Pulls the Plug on Iranian Gas,” OilPrice.com, 12-23-25.  “Iraq on Tuesday announced a complete suspension of natural gas imports from Iran, a move the electricity ministry said immediately knocked between 4,000 and 4,500 megawatts off the national power grid. On its face, the decision sounds dramatic. In practical terms, it is but the final step in a process that was already well underway. Iraqi officials have spent the past year declaring victory over fuel imports, first halting shipments of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene while pitching a broader narrative of energy self-sufficiency. Gas was the remaining—and most politically sensitive—piece of that puzzle. Iranian supplies had been covering roughly 30 to 40 percent of Iraq’s power generation needs. Of course, those volumes had already been diminishing due to payment disputes, U.S. sanctions pressure, and Iran’s own domestic shortages. The “complete suspension” isn’t the sudden cutoff that it appears. Baghdad is merely taking the next logical step in the breakup with Iran through partial import reductions and unreliable flows. Washington has been steadily pushing Iraq to unwind its dependence on Tehran, and Baghdad has been eager to show compliance without triggering a full-blown electricity crisis. The fallback plan—burning locally produced alternative fuels—is not new, nor is it ideal.”

Really Princeton?  Mousavian has been denounced repeatedly over the years and on this blog.  We thought Princeton had finally cut ties after many demands.  Now Mousavian claims to be a Visiting Research Collaborator with the Program on Science and Global Security-Princeton University, and has a Princeton email.  His website’s address says it all at https://hosseinmousavian.com/about/bio where you read, “Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s praise of Seyed Hossein Mousavian during a March 2016 interview: “Dr. Mousavian is a former colleague of mine in the foreign ministry. If one wants to pass a fair and just judgement, Mousavian has beautifully and with great effort defended the positions of Iran in Europe, America, and in conferences across the world. On many occasions other foreign ministers who attended regional conferences where I was not present but Mousavian was, have later congratulated me on the way that he defended Iran. I do not believe in past accusations against him.  I worked with Dr. Mousavian closely for years and believe that he is a person who is fully loyal to Iran and serving his country. He has worked hard for this country and continues to do so”.”  See “How the Middle East can escape the cycle of conflict in 2026,” MEE, 12-22-25.  In the article, only Israel and the U.S. are at fault for Middle East ills, never Iran or anyone else.  Does Princeton want to continue its association?  It has no duty to finance other views (and for years), and should distance itself from someone forever supporting the controversial Regime under the imprimatur of your university.  (he’s no Bernard Lewis).

“Two armadas set sail for South Africa as Iran continues quest for deeper multilateral military ties,” Tehran Times,” 12-22-25.

“Iran Speaks Out on Nuclear Technology,” Newsweek, 12-22-25.  “The International Atomic Energy Agency’s inspectors remain barred from those sites struck by the U.S. Iran has criticized the IAEA for not addressing its security concerns by publicly condemning the U.S. and Israeli strikes on its nuclear facilities, though Araghchi said the country remained committed to its legal obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.”  (But Iran has repeatedly violated the NPT, so they’re really not committed to it…”

They need to be working on water.  And education.  And transportation.  And health.  “Iran Reportedly Conducts Ballistic Missile Drills,” FDD, 12-22-25.

“Israel warns US Iran missile drills may be cover for surprise attack – Axios,” Iran International, 12-22-25.

Read this and explain how it jives with other media reporting.  It doesn’t.  “Iran warns U.S. actions against Venezuela threaten global peace,” Xinhua, 12-21-25.

This story is probably true, at this time.  “Iran’s FM says no longer in touch with U.S. Mideast envoy,” Xinhua, 12-21-25.

“Spy executed in Iran after carrying out over 200 missions for Israel,” Tehran Times, 12-20-25.

“Iran Rebuilds Military Strength After 12-Day War with Israel,” Caspian Post, 12-20-25.

“Rubio says top US problem with Iran is how it treats its people,” Iran International, 12-19-25.  Quote of the Day, from U.S. Sec. of State Marco Rubio.  “You’ve got a clerical, radical regime that has driven and taken the wealth of that country and used it not to enrich their – secure their people and their future, not to make sure they have enough water and electricity,” Rubio added. “They’ve used their money to sponsor terrorist organizations all over the world.”  Another quote on which this blog is based.

“Iran Update, December 19, 2025,” ISW, 12-19-25.

“Iran’s Supreme Leader Shakes Up Air Force,” Newsweek, 12-18-25.

“32 of the world’s 50 most overpumped aquifers are in Iran.”  That alone tells you a lot.  And a great, informative article.  See “After Ruining a Treasured Water Resource, Iran Is Drying Up,” Yale Environment 360, 12-18-25.

“Thousands of Israelis receive text messages from Iranian Intelligence,” Israel Hayom, 12-18-25.

“Who Can Solve Iran’s Many Problems? Not I, Says the President,” NYT, 12-18-25.  “Amid sky-high inflation, water and energy cuts and prospects for a deal with the U. S. dimming, President Masoud Pezeshkian has apparently thrown up his hands. …  He has gone as far as to say that Iran’s problems are self-made — a result of corruption, factional infighting and decades of government spending practices that he described as “what crazy people do” — and not the fault of the United States or Israel. “The problem is us,” he has said in several meetings, including the one with students. This month, Mr. Pezeshkian told provincial governors and local officials to imagine the central government “did not exist” and “solve your problems yourselves.” “Why should I solve them?” he said. “You shouldn’t think that the president can make miracles happen.” … In Iran’s political structure, the president can influence foreign and domestic policies somewhat, but the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, has the final say in all major state matters. Former presidents seldom admitted to being hampered by the system. Not Mr. Pezeshkian. He appears to have no qualms about saying out loud that he is subservient to Mr. Khamenei on contentious foreign policy issues such as resolving the nuclear standoff with the United States. He has also said publicly that he hasn’t been allowed to lift restrictions on popular social media applications such as Instagram, which Iranians now can get access to through virtual private networks, as he promised to do. … For now, Mr. Khamenei has thrown his support behind the president, who has three years left in his term.”  If the president can’t solve Iran’s problems, he can look to the Supreme Leader to actually take responsibility.

Lots of blog-relevant news on 12-17-25.  First this one–Their own fault, based on the Regime’s founding purposes and following decisions over 46 years.  “‘Nobody Knows What to Do About the Future’,” The Atlantic, 12-17-25.

It started by dragging her by her hair to a vehicle.  “Why Iran Is Going After Its Best,” Time, 12-17-25.  “The establishment knows protests are inevitable,” one said. “It is only a matter of time.” Their strategy is to delay that reckoning through fear, executing people at a rate of four a day, deploying checkpoints across major cities, monitoring citizens’ phones, and making examples of anyone with a platform.

“Swiss government significantly expands sanctions against Iran,” Sanctions News, 12-17-25

“Sweden confirms citizen held in Iran after judiciary announces espionage case,” Iran International, 12-17-25.

This author’s opinion (and the website’s) perspective is so off-base I almost didn’t post it, but just to again say that I post other perspectives, here it is.  (as evidence of how wrong the analysis is, note that the June War is not even mentioned, nor is Iran’s nuclear weapons program).  “Black Boxes and Broken Mirrors: Iran, Israel, and the New Geography of Instability,” Small Wars Journal, 12-17-25.

“Mossad chief says Iran still determined to build nuclear bomb,” Iran International, 12-17-25.

“Iran, Russia sign cooperation agreement after talks in Moscow,” Iran International, 12-17-25.

One of the few articles approaching this subject in the past years.  “What Has Iran Gained from BRICS?,” National Interest, 12-17-25.  In essence, one IR theory says that states look after their own interests.  So, if various pirate states band together for a common goal or for a time period, the base being flawed in original or ultimate purpose does not allow for long-term success.  That does not bode well for Iran.  It can’t be relied upon, nor the other states upon each other.  So Iran, and they, instead should reconsider why it/they exist as a state.

Interesting.  Iran is always looking for opportunities to surround the U.S., Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey (E and T don’t always make this type of point).  “Is Iran’s Axis of Resistance turning toward Tunisia?,” National Interest, 12-17-25.  But this story comes at a time that Tunisia needs to evaluate its trajectory and the best interests of its people.

Iran’s ability to project power into the Persian Gulf wants the islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb.  “Iran summons Cyprus ambassador over interventionist stance,” Mehr, 12-17-25.

“Iran curbs women’s rights further by changing dowry law,” DW, 12-17-25.  From 110 gold coins to just 14 coins, and each is about 8 grams of gold.  12-22-25 price is 153/gram, so that’s not much price to pay for males for a bride or a divorce.

Lost an opportunity to lose an opportunity.  “Trump authorized Iran attack after Tehran rejected deal – Washington Post,” Iran International, 12-17-25.

Outstanding article, one of the best on this topic.  People power.  “What frightens Tehran more than bunker busters and F-35s,” Iran International, 12-17-25.

“China Draws Iranian Ire Over UAE Islands Claim,” RFE/RL, 12-17-25.

“Inside Venezuela’s growing arsenal of Iranian weapons,” Task & Purpose, 12-17-25.  You wonder about the U.S. threatening Maduro, the proxy of Iran?!  “Iranian-made attack boats, missiles, drones, and Hezbollah-linked networks.  Great article showing the relationship and some of the important reasons the U.S. is off the coast.

“Iran-linked hacker group offers $30,000 bounty for Israel’s military info,” Iran International, 12-16-25.  “Handala is widely described by cybersecurity researchers and Western officials as tied to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence. Researchers say the group operates as part of a broader cyber unit known as Banished Kitten, also referred to as Storm-0842 or Dune, which they link to the ministry’s Domestic Security Directorate.”

But from Press TV.  And the OIC supports all countries in the alliance.  “OIC chief pledges support for Iran, hails Tehran’s role in Islamic solidarity,” Press TV, 12-16-25.

“‘Nahariya get ready’: Banner displaying Hezbollah threat mounted in Tehran’s Palestine Square,” JPost, 12-16-25.